New Delhi: Sharad Pawar led NCP (National Congress Party) today (Jan 27, 2004) filed a caveat with the Election Commission (EC) in the wake of reports that the rebel group led by P A Sangma would be approaching the Commission to stake a claim to NCP's name, symbol and flag.

The caveat was filed by NCP delegation led by party general secretary Pitamber Master.

Other members of the delegation included chairman of the party's legal cell A Sharan, and party secretary S R Kohli.

Master said they have filed the petition, through which they have requested the Commission to give them a hearing before deciding on any matter concerning the party.

Pawar said yesterday (Jan 26, 2004) that the caveat would be filed as a matter of abundant precaution as he did not feel that Sangma "would be indulging in any such action".

NCP suffered a three-way split on January 24 with Sangma 'replacing' Pawar as party chief at a convention of rebel party men and Chattisgarh leader V C Shukla announcing that he would be floating a regional outfit.

Soon after the split, Sangma had declared that he would be approaching the Election Commission on January 27 to seek recognition that his party was the original NCP and claim the party symbol and flag.

NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar has already attacked Sangma's move saying that the former Lok Sabha Speaker did not have support of party MPs (Member of Parliament), MLA's (Member of Legislative Assembly) and party's Working Committee members expressed confidence that the Election Commission would reject Sangma's plea.